Cigarette extinguisher



Dec- 17, 1968 1 N. cRoswHl'rE CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Filed Nov. 21, 1966MINI..

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United States latent O 3,416,538 CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Larry N.Croswhite, 3611 N. Chelsea, Kansas City, M0. 64117 Filed Nov. 21, 1966,Ser. No. 595,837 6 Claims. (Cl. 131-237) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Thestructure disclosed herein includes a pair of swinging arms mounted on abase, the arms being disposed above an ashtray and arranged to swingportions thereof toward each other for extinguishing a cigarette placedtherebetween.

This invention relates to cigarette extinguishing apparatus, and moreparticularly, to improved means for snuffing out lighted cigarettes.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a cigaretteextenguisher having pivotal arms which are swung toward each other toextenguish a cigarette therebetween, the improvement being theelimination of interconnecting structure between the arms as has beennecessary with prior devices to effect the extinguishing process. Priorextinguishers have generally involved a pair of snuffing faces on thearms which move toward each other to extinguish the cigarette, the facesbeing interconnected by linkage to effect a joint operation of thefaces. The extinguished material invariably collects on the linkage andshifting of the arms is impaired by consequent build-up of the materialon the linkage.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the invention to provide anextinguisher as above described wherein counter-balance structure isused to dispose the arms in operative position to obviate the need forinterconnecting linkage. The lack of connection between the armsprecludes troubesome buildup of ashes on the extinguishing apparatus andthis affords the additional advantage of facilitating the cleaning ofthe extinguisher whereby a neat appearance is easily maintained. Alsothe pivot structure for the arms is placed into open seats for ease inremoving, to further facilitate cleaning and for simplicity ofconstruction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cigaretteextinguisher wherein the extinguishing is automatically eiiected bydownward pressure of the cigarette on the snulfi-ng faces, with noadditional mechanism being required to cause shifting of the snufingfaces to extinguish the cigarette.

The present invention achieves its objectes in various embodiments whichare described in detail in the following speciiication and shown in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical, cross-sectional View of one embodiment of acigarette extinguisher made pursuant to the teachings of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. l but showing the extinguishingoperation;

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view of a thirdembodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. l-3, anashtray is provided and connected 3,415,538 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 inside-by-side relationship through sidewall 12 to a base 13. Base 13 hasa recessed compartment 14 formed therein, the latter being surrounded bysidewall 12, outer sidewall 16, and opposed end walls 18. With referenceto FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner surfaces of end walls 18 are suitablynotched to complimentally releasaibly receive a tray 20 at the 'bottomof compartment 14.

A pair of arms 22 are pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movementon base 13 by respective shafts 24 secured intermediate the ends of arms22, each shaft 24 being received by a corresponding pair of opposedseats 26 for-med in sidewalls 12 and 16. Each arm 22 comprises anintegral member which is hollow at one end 28 thereof, the other end 30being solid to define a coutnerweight structure 32.

Each end 28 is substantially triangular and has an arcuate web 33 at theextremity thereof to present an outer snufling face 34. Shafts 24 aresuitably spaced to dispose snufling faces 34 in opposed, closely spacedrelationship to define an extinguishing zone 36 therebetween, faces 34being normally yieldably disposed in the upper positions, shown in FIG.l by counterweights 32 which rest on tray 20.

In operation, recognizing that snuing faces 34 are normally disposed asshown in FIG. l, a lighted cigarette 38 is inserted into extinguishingzone 36 and into contact with snuiling faces 34 to force the latterdownwardly in unison. Arms 22 are fulcrumed by their respective shafts24 for swinging in opposite directions which thereby brings snuftingfaces 34 toward each other upon downward swinging thereof to the lowerposition shown in FIG. 2, which effects extinguishing of cigarette 38.The extinguished material from cigarette 38 falls in tray 20 whereuponcigarette 38 is lifted and snufling faces 34 permitted to automaticallyswing to their corresponding upper positions in response to the actionof counterweights 32.

It will be appreciated that the extinguishing process and automaticresetting of arms 22 are achieved without any attendant need for linkagemechanism interconnecting arms 22. Thus, the operation of the arms willnot be impaired by an accumulation of ashes on linkage of any type, withthe ashes either being dropped into tray 20 or adhering to faces 34 fromwhich they may be wiped clean to easily maintain a neat appearance.Buildup of ashes on the faces will not occur as subsequent cigaretteswill tend to force previous ashes from snuiiiing faces 34.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, there is provided abase 113 having a recessed compartment 114 defined therein andsurrounded 'by sidewall 112, a second sidewall (not shown), and endwalls 118. A bottom 115 is formed in base 113 and has an opening thereinfor receiving a tray 120. A iirst arm 122 is pivotally mountedintermediate its ends for vertical swinging movement by a shaft 124connected between the sidewalls of case 113. One end 128 of arm 122includes a plate 129 having an integral, downwardly extending web 133presenting an outer snutling face 134, there being an integral lip 135extending laterally from the lowermost edge of web 133. The other end130 of arm 122 has a counterweight 132 thereon which normally rests onbottom 115 to yieldably dispose snuliing face 134 in the upper positionshown in the full-line portions of FIG. 4.

A second arm 123 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof for verticalswinging by a shaft connected between the side-walls of base 113. Secondarm 123 comprises a shank portion having a depending finger 142 at thefree end thereof, the outer surface of the latter defining a snufiingface 144. The lower edge of finger 142 rests on the upper surface 0f lip135 with the sufiing faces 134 and 144 thereby being disposed inopposed, closely spaced relationship to define an extinguishing zone 136therebetween, faces 134 and 144 being normally disposed in the upperpositions shown in the full-line portion of FIG. 4. It will beappreciated that if it is desired to reduce the pressure of finger 142on lip 135, a suitable counterweight may be provided on arm 123 at theside of shaft 125 opposite the said one end of arm 123. The depth ofinsertion of the cigarette into extinguishing Zone 136 is controlled bythe depth of the faces 134 and 144 and the fact that lip 135 extendstherebetween, as illustrated, to first engage the ignited end of thecigarette when it is inserted in zone 136.

In the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a cigarette isinserted into extinguishing zone 136 into contact with the upper surfaceof lip 135, such contact serving to permit the faces 134 and 144 toswing downwardly in unison to the lower positions shown in broken linesin FIG. 4, thereby extinguishing the cigarette. Arms 122 and 123 thusswing in opposite directions to bring snufiing faces 134 and 144 intosubstantially parallel relationship for extinguishing the cigarettetherebetween. When the extinguished cigarette is lifted, snufing face134 will automatically swing to its upper position in response to theaction of counterweight 132, with snufiing face 144 also being shiftedto its upper position as it is carried by lip 135. As noted with respectto the first embodiment, there are no interconnecting elements betweenarms 122 and 123 whereby operation thereof is not impaired and cleaningof the extinguisher is facilitated.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, there is provided abase 213 having a compartment 214 therein, the latter being surroundedby sidewall 212, end wall 218, and walls opposed thereto (not shown). Abottom 215 is provided in base 213 and receives a tray 220.

A first arm 222 is pivotally mounted intermediate its endsl for verticalswinging by a shaft 224 connected between the sidewalls of base 213. Oneend 228 of arm 222 includes a plate 229 having an integral, downwardlyextending web 233 presenting an outer snutiing face 234, there being anintegral lip 235 extending laterally from the lowermost edge of web 233.The other end 230 of arm 222 has a counterweifht 232 thereon whichnormally rests on bottom 215 to yieldably dispose snufiing face 234 inthe upper position shown in the full-line portions of FIG. 5.

A second arm 223 overlies first arm 222 and is pivoted at one endthereof. for vertical swinging by a shaft 225 connected between thesidewalls of base 213. A second arm 223 is U-shaped in configuration topresent a pair of opposed legs 240 positioned outwardly of first arm 222and secured at one end thereof to shaft 225, there being a bight 242 atthe other end of legs 240. The lower edge of bight 242 rests on laterallip 235 whereby the inner surface thereof presents a snufiing face 244disposed in opposed, closely-spaced relationship to snufiing face 234whereby an extinguishing zone 236 is dened between the faces.

In the operation of this embodiment, a cigarette is inserted intoextinguishing zone 236 and into contact with lip 235 to force the faces234 and 244 downwardly in unison to the lower position indicated by thebroken-line portion of FIG. 5. Arms 222 and 223 are fulcrumed wherebysnufiing faces 234 and 244 are shifted toward each other intosubstantially parallel relationship for extinguishing the cigarette. Theextinguished cigarette is then lifted to permit automatic upwardswinging of snuffing face 234 through the action of counterweight 232,with arm 223 also being swung upwardly as it is carried by lip 23s.

As discussed with respect to the first two embodiments of thisinvention, the form shown in FIG. 5 utilizes no interconnecting linkagebetween arms 222 and 223 and thus provides the corresponding advantagesof smooth operation and ease of cleaning. This embodiment isparticularly suitable for compact installations since the arms arearranged in overlying relationship and thus require only a minimum ofoperating space.

In each of the three embodiments discussed above, it will be noted thatthe arms pivot about substantially parallel, horizontal axes whereby thecorresponding snuffing faces are swung into substantially parallelrelationship during the extinguishing process. In the embodiments shownin FIGS. 1-3 and 4, the pivotal mountings of the respective arms are onopposed sides of the corresponding extinguishing zone whereby theextinguishing process is effected by pivoting the arms in oppositeswinging directions. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5,the arms are on a common side of the extinguishing zone and are thuspivotal in the same swinging direction to extinguish the cigarette. Ineach of the embodiments, downward pivotal movement of the free end of atleast one counterweight is limited by structure such as that seen inFIGS. 1, 4 and 5, thereby defining the elevated position of the arms.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A cigarette extinguisher comprising:

a base;

a first and second arm, each arm having a snutiing face thereon;

means pivotally mounting said rst arm intermediate the ends thereof onsaid base for vertical swinging movement from an elevated position to alowered position, one end of the first arm having said snuffng facethereon;

a counterweight on the other end of said first arm for normallyyieldably disposing the snufling face thereof in an elevated position;

means pivotally mounting the second arm on said base for verticalswinging movement from an elevated position to a lowered position; l

structure for normally yieldably disposing the snufiing face of thesecond arm in an elevated position in closely-spaced relationship to thesnufng face of the first arm to define an extinguishing zone betweensaid faces, said arms being free of any physical connectiontherebetween, each arm being fulcrumed at its respective pivotalmounting to bring said snufiing faces toward each other upon swingingthereof to a lowered position whereby a lighted cigarette may beinserted into said zone into contact with the snuffing faces in theirelevated position to force the latter to a-lowered position and towardeach other to extinguish the cigarette therebetween; and meansunderlying the free end of the counter weight and said yieldablestructure for limiting the movement thereof and for defining theelevated position of said first and second arms.

2. The invention of claim 1, said base including a tray underlying saidsnutiing faces for receiving extinguished material.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said arms pivot about substantiallyparallel horizontal axes.

4. The invention of claim 1, said pivotal mountings being on opposedsides of said extinguishing zone and said arms being pivotal in oppositeswinging directions for extinguishng the cigarette.

5. The invention of claim 4, said second arm being pivoted intermediateits ends by its respective mounting means, the end adjacent said firstarm having said snutiing face thereon, and said structure comprising acounterweight on the other end of the second arm.

6. The invention of claim 5, said arms each comprising an integralmember, said member being hollow at said one end and having an arcuatesurface at the extremity References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Darney131-237 Poling 131-237 Glomb 131-237 Boller 131-237 6 1,977,437 10/ 1934Gaynor 131-237 2,206,236 7/1940 Pudlch 131-237 2,671,454 3/ 1954Williams 131-237 FOREIGN PATENTS 244,220 12/ 1925 Great Britain. 25 5,640 7/ 1926 Great Britain.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Prmaly Examiner.

